TROWBRIDGE middleweight Nick Blackwell's scheduled first defence of his English title next month has been postponed.
Blackwell, 20, was due to take on Derbyshire's Matt Hainy at Swindon's MECA Centre on March 5, his first fight since winning the belt at Bath last November.
However, a virus has left 'Bang Bang' stricken, disrupting his training and forcing the contest with Hainy to be called off.
It is expected to be revived at a later date.
The March 5 bill in Swindon will go ahead however, with Blackwell's stablemate from the Contender Gym in Trowbridge, Liam Richards, getting his own shot at a title belt.
Melksham fighter Richards, 24, will take on Steve Gethin for the vacant British Masters super-featherweight crown, in a fight that will now top the MECA bill.
The two have met twice before, with Richards outpointing the Walsall fighter both times in the space of a month at the end of 2009.
FULL STORY AND REACTION IN FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES
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